Angry Jose Refuses to Back Down; but Blues Boss Says He Doesn't Want to Fight FA

Angry Jose Refuses to Back Down; but Blues Boss Says He Doesn't Want to Fight FA

Article excerpt

Byline: MATT HUGHES

JOSE MOURINHO today insisted that he has no desire to go to war with the Football Association or the Premier League but refused to back down in the row over Chelsea's fixture list.

Both the FA and the Premier League took the highly unusual step of jointly condemning the Chelsea manager's comments yesterday but not even the threat of another disrepute charge could secure his silence.

Mourinho believes that Chelsea have been unfairly treated by being handed five away fixtures following their Champions League group games, while Arsenal will be at Highbury on five occasions, and is determined to prevent a repeat occurrence.

He said: "I don't want a war, I don't want a fight, I just want to say that these are the facts. Nothing else. They can do nothing now but can resolve the problem for next season. It has to be the same for everyone.

"The facts are the facts. After a Champions League game, Chelsea play away and Arsenal play at home. …